linux internet programs suck

[sledge_hmr]

I have become quite frustrated with Linux, in particular its poor internet programs. I have been using Slackware for serveral months now and even recently upgraded to Slack 8. I find the OS overall very solid, but good email and web browsing programs are nowhere to be found. I am using KDE, but find it's Konqueor unimaginably slow compared to MS's Internet Explorer. I've tried Opera and Netscape for Linux too and they are worse. As for email... Kmail stinks--sometimes its able to download my email off of the ISP server, but more often than not it simply can do it. How is Linux ever going to make inroads into MS Windows turf if it can't do these two things--things which most families want to use their computers for.

Are there better programs out there for web browsing and emailing? If not then this is one area where attention is much needed.

[EyesWideOpen]

Browser [in]compatibility/slowness issues in Linux are known issues. The road to a stable Linux browser becomes shortened with every new release of a browser -- if only on a minor scale. For the time being you are going to just have to use a browser that works the most for you and keep up to date on new releases (I'm downloading Mozilla (http://www.mozilla.org) 0.9.2 right now).

Personally I use Opera (http://www.opera.com) 5 for most daily browsing in Red Hat 7.1. I use Mozilla when I know that I may be accessing a Flash site that might screw up Netscape (which I use for bug testing, email manager, hotmail).

[ 19 July 2001: Message edited by: EyesWideOpen ]

[AppleValleyBob]

It may be that your distribution or choice of internet service provider. Also, my computer has 128 mb of ram. I use Mandrake, version 8 which installs Konqueror 1.9.8 under KDE 2.0. I have a charter cable modem. I find that Konqueror is quite good, and fast enough. Once in a while I'll run into a a graphic that tells me I do not have the correct version of Java loaded.

When that happens (and it is important to view the java script) I switch to Netscape 4.7 (also supplied by Mandrake). Netscape works well, but is loaded with advertising as opposed the the very clean look of Konqueror.

Also, Mandrake includes a full version of Sun MicroSystem's StarOffice 5.2. It comes with a mail client, and its Write program can be configured to browser use. I'm so pleased with Konqueror, I just haven't had time to try it yet.

Home this helps.

applevalleybob@yahoo.net

[mcmanus69]

You don't like KMail? Odd, I've been seeing most only positive things about it, and I rather enjoy it myself (low system overhead, very fast and stable), with no problems.

As for browsers, you're right. IE is incredibly fast but that's also because it's integrated into Windows as part of the system manager/browser, and therefore is in essence pre-loaded (as Windows boots). I've found Konqueror and Opera to be rather speedy, and I do use Mozilla every once in a while for better compatibility (when issues come up)

[Choozo]

Originally posted by AppleValleyBob:
<STRONG>Netscape works well, but is loaded with advertising as opposed the the very clean look of Konqueror.
</STRONG>

Que :confused:

You must be referring to Opera5 (the free version), right?

Cheers :)

[evulish]

I happen to like Opera 5 (Final). Very stable, extremely fast (I think it's faster than IE), Nice interface and the MDI windows. I just hope 5.1 comes out because I want opera's email client (I like integrated mail systems)! But until that comes out, I use KMail which I'm happy with. Nice interface and it always gets my mail...

I don't know whats wrong with yours...heh

(Isn't this more suited for the rants section? I don't think I saw any actual question :))

[sledge_hmr]

Are there better programs out there for web browsing and emailing?

[fancypiper]

What Windows programs will do what the mutt/procmail combo does?

I have never seen a better e-mail prog than mutt.

[bobtcowboy]

Originally posted by fancypiper:
<STRONG>I have never seen a better e-mail prog than mutt.</STRONG>

*blink*

Ever started X? hehehe... sorry, I much prefer kmail over mutt ;) or maybe I'm getting my mail clients confused and mutt isn't CLI?

anyways, regarding your problems, browsers are hard things to find for linux, especially if RAM is an issue.... if you don't care about graphics much there's always lynx ;)

Bill